Interested In Nursing: What would you do?

[ysage94]

Hello!

BACKGROUND:

I have recently became interested in becoming a male nurse and want to enter a nursing program, but I have a little dilemma. I am currently a student at the local community college (studying Business Administration.) I am a little over half way through my Associates degree. I fell behind and I am in my third semester. At the end of this semester I will have 35 credits completed.

My Community College offers Guaranteed admissions to the nursing school at the University of Virginia and George Washington University (if i get a 2 year degree in Nursing and pass NCLEX exam).

I have taken no classes that are related to nursing or science. I am taking Biology 1 this semester. I am mainly taking general pre-requisites required for most degrees and business classes. It is also too late to add and switch to nursing classes for this semester.

QUESTION:

If you were in this situation, what would you do?

1.) Continue and finish my Associates Degree in business, and try to add a couple extra biology and other science classes. Then apply to a 4 year university then apply for their nursing school.

2.) Finish Associates degree in Business, then try to receive a Associates degree in Nursing, take NCLEX and use the Guaranteed Admission Agreement (RN to BS).

3.) Switch majors now, and only focus on Nursing, and forget Business degree?

4.) Any other options?

I really appreciate any advice you can give me,

Thanks,

Sage

[Path2BSN]

I was in the same predicament a few years ago. I switched majors, and started taking the pre-req's for nursing. It's up to you, but I took all of the English and History, whatever was general requirements for either major, so all I really had left was math, and science's. Good luck!

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Good day, ysage94:

I agree with nichola1; switch majors.

Thank you.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

Talk with a financial aid counselor to see what would be best at this point. You may run out of time for financial aid.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

PPs are offering great advice. I only wanted to share my amusement that the OP had to state his intention to become a "male nurse". I didn't know that gender identity was part of the decision - LOL.

Note to OP: It's better to just say "nurse" - it's the same profession for everyone.

[ysage94]

Hey everyone thanks for the replies, I went to my college and we set up a game plan :) I am going to get general studies degree, to fulfill all the requirements to get into nursing school, I will then transfer.

@HouTx - haha being male had nothing to do with the decision. I was just excited and felt somewhat unique haha xD.i know it was extra info that wasn't really needed lol. I know that it's the same no matter the gender xD lol

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

As a nurse who is a man do not refer to yourself as a hoping to become a "male nurse". If you graduate and pass the NCLEX you will be RN. It sounds totally unprofessional and no one in a hospital thinks it is funny.

[ysage94]

I understand what you mean, I should of left the whole "male" part of the opening post. I know that referring to be a male nurse would be unprofessional in the workplace, and in the work place I wouldn't actually refer my self by gender. I didn't mean anything by it.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

If I'm understanding you correctly, you believe that you can finish a business degree, "try to take a couple extra biology and science classes" and be prepared to enter a BSN program?

Not every nursing program is the same as the next, of course. But conservatively, you should expect to have a significant number of pre-requisite courses completed (with excellent GPA) prior to acceptance into any of them.

Generally, they include anatomy and physiology (typically a semester for each), chemistry, one or two biology courses; microbiology in addition to Bio 101 is common. You might have sociology or psych as a general ed requirement done already; if not, you can expect to complete those, too; a second psych course is also common, but not always a pre-requ. Algebra is a common pre-requ (or another 'health sciences' type of math course).

Bottom line: switching majors NOW and starting all the courses you will need in nursing is the way to go. No sense in completing a degree that will only give you some of what you need later down the road. Get the maths and sciences done so you CAN have the option to continue :)

[ysage94]

@RNSRWE - That is what I originally thought, until I did more research.

I did a lot of research last night, and was able to talk to 2 counselors today and I got a game plan set up. I ended up switching my major from business to General Studies. The nursing program at the community college was over 2 hours away because of traffic and I can't spend 4 hours a day in the car (especially because I don't have a license.)

So, my counsellor and I decided that a Associates in General Studies (geared towards transfer to 4yr school) . This gives me a lot of flexibility to focus on the math and science classes. I now have a plan!

Thanks for your response :)

Sage

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Yay you :)

Good luck!